Ironsides - Task Force Rakkasan Page

Task Force

Rakkasan

tori

Kandahar, Afghanistan

January to August 2002

Operation Enduring Freedom
War Against Terrorism

187rct

(187th Infantry Regimental Combat Patch, which was awarded to 3 PPCLI BG pers by US Brigade and Task Force Commander)

In early January 2002, members of the Canadian Army's 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group (3 PPCLI BG) joined members of 2nd Battalion , 187th Infantry Regiment (2/187) of 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Kandahar Afghanistan. Upon arriving into the theatre of Operations, Canadian and American units became known as the Task Force RAKKASAN.

During the period of January to July 2002, Task Force RAKKASAN conducted combat operations throughout the theatre of operations. Operations ANACONDA, TORRI and CHEROKEE SKY to note a few. Of particular interest, during Operation Anaconda which was the allied assault on the Shah-i-Kot mountain range. Canadian snipers were noted as setting a world record "Longest Shot and Kill", at just over 2,400 meter's.

Also during this period, Canadian and American troops "RAKKASANS", conducted numerous (hundreds) of combat, presence and good will patrols throughout the Kandahar area, allowing for locals to live in a relatively peaceful period.

(Recce Squadron - Lord Strathcohna Horse, on patrol)
us patrol

(Elements of Canadian Combat Team, with Apache conducting over watch)